Isolatin of cellulase enzyme producing bacteria and investigation of usability in aquaculture

In this study, bacteria producing carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) enzyme were isolated from soil samples collected from two different locations of Çukurova University campus. Bacteria were named as Bacillus sp. SU44 and BK17, respectively. Isolation and partial characterization of the extracellular cellulase enzyme from these microorganisms were performed. In the study, the optimum pH and temperature values of the enzymes of both isolates were determined as 5.0 and 40 °C, respectively. Bacillus sp. SU44 isolate reached the maximum CMCase production level at 24 hours from the start of inoculation, while BK17 isolate reached 48 hours. Thermal stability experiments revealed that both enzymes lost residual activity after 40 °C. While CoCl showed an inhibitory effect on both enzymes, EDTA, SDS, MgCl2 and CaCl2 acted as activators at different rates. Both isolates showed varying sensitivity to penicillin, ampicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin antibiotics. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that Bacillus sp. SU44 and BK17 strains showed 99% similarity with Bacillus pacificus and Bacillus tropicus, respectively. Key Words: Bacillus pasificus, Bacillus tropicus, cellulase, isolation, characterization